CompulsiveQuilter

How in the world do you join strips with a totally-directional stripe? Is there a tip here, ladies and gents? I have ripped and ripped. I always seem to be about 1/4" off. What am I doing wrong? Should I have cut it on the bias or would that help at all?

grann of 6

One way to achieve perfection or as close as the eye can discern, is to lay your rows of fabric on top of each other so the ends overlap and the stripes match perfectly, then with your rotary cutter cut through both layers, 45 degree angle works well here. Remove the scrap pieces and sew together, you should have a perfect match and with the angled seam it shows less in the final product.

katier825

Do you mean how to match stripes? If so, what I do is to fold down and press 1/4 seam allowance on one piece, then when I get it lined up, I glue baste it and press it. Once it's pressed well, you can sew on the pressed line. It works well for matching prints also. I don't like piecing my borders, but when I do, I try to match them.

grann of 6

Nope, no gluing required. Pretend you are making a OBW (one block wonder). Cut your first strip of your stripe fabric the width you want. Then lay that over your other fabric till the stripes are lined up identically, cut the next strip, and continue this way till you have the length you need plus a little extra. Next you will unfold your strips to a single layer. Overlap an end of each of the first 2 strips enough that you can make a 45 degree cut, remove the scraps. You should be able to go straight to the sewing machine and sew these together. They should come out perfect if you lined everything up perfectly when cutting. Do one strip at a time till you have the length you need. Maybe this topic needs a visual tutorial. I can't do one today, but maybe tomorrow.

QuiltE

Would you not need to allow for the 1/4" seam on each in order to keep the match?

grann of 6

If you overlap it right, the allowance will be covered. If you get the horizontal stripes aligned perfectly then when you sew your angled seam, the other part is less noticeable if it is not perfect. Anyway remember you are going to be folding this for binding so you will have a very narrow stripe showing. Also, if you use the galloping horse idea, who is going to notice but the person who made it? :roll: :lol:

nativetexan

they all must be cut exactly the same too. all widths should be the same look. then you should be able to match them when adding extra length and at corners when you miter. carefully.

grann of 6

Thanks, nativetexan. I reread her post and realized she is doing a border, not binding. But the procedure would be the same. If you do the strips in the "stack n whack" method it works great.

feffertim

that would be great. please do a tute

CompulsiveQuilter

My kingdom for a tute